Tom Azbell's Obituary
Services for Billy Tom Azbell, 81, of Hallsville will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 27, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Hallsville with the Dr. Monty Pierce and Mike Smith officiating. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will be at Noonday Cemetery in Hallsville. Tom passed away Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Longview Regional Medical Center.
Tom was born July 19, 1932, in San Diego, California, to Alton and Myrtle White Azbell. He accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hallsville for 50 years. He graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1950, served in the U.S. Army, and attended Tyler Junior College and East Texas State Teachers College. He married Wanda Lou Howle on July 27, 1956, and was an operator for Eastman Kodak, retiring after 33 years. After retirement he began Tom’s Gravel Agency, buying and selling iron ore gravel, and was known to many as the “rock man”.
Tom never met a stranger, was loved by all who knew him, and had a positive, lasting impact on many people’s lives. He served on the Hallsville School Board for six years and spent more than 10 years coaching youth baseball leagues. He loved the outdoors and spent many hours fishing and hunting quail and deer, and played baseball on area teams for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his sons and grandchildren and being involved in their activities, having coffee with his friends at the local bank and Dairy Queen, and watching baseball and football games.
Tom is survived by his wife of 57 years, Wanda, of Hallsville, and his sons and daughters-in-law: Kerry Don and Sally Azbell of Longview, and Ricky and Diona Azbell of Keller. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jake Azbell of Longview, Chance Azbell of Keller, Kaylan and husband Kerry Fletcher of Longview, and Baylee Azbell of Keller, and the arrival of his first great granddaughter is expected in early June.
Pallbearers will be Jake Azbell, Chance Azbell, Kerry Fletcher, Mickey Bryce, Stacy Bryce, and James Greer. Services are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hallsville‘s Building Fund, P. O. Box 359, Hallsville, Texas 75650.
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